Broken Hill looks like a classic outback town, with big country pubs on wide street corners, all under a deep blue sky. From its heritage and art, to the warm welcome locals offer, Broken Hill offers the great Australian Outback with captivating landscapes drenched in light, vast skies, brilliant sunsets and clear nights ablaze with stars.
Useful Facts
Size: 178 km 2
Population: 19,000
Climate: Broken Hill has a hot dry climate but is generally mild with only 8 to 10 days a year exceeding 38°C. Average temperature range is 17° to 33°C in summer and 5° to 17°C in winter. The average annual rainfall is 250mm.
Transport
Road: 1,150km from Sydney, 500km from Adelaide, 300km from Mildura.
Rail: Indian Pacific operates from Sydney and Adelaide
Airport: Broken Hill
Local: A public bus service runs daily on four different routes around the city. Taxi and hire car companies are readily available and you can even rent bicycles.
Education
- Broken Hill Department of Rural Health (Sydney University)
- Charles Sturt University
- Broken Hill College TAFE Western
Employment
The largest employers in Broken Hill are Perilya and CBH Resources.
Dining
There are loads of dining options in Broken Hill from cafes and pubs to clubs and fine dining, catering to every taste in every price range.
Step back in time and into an authentic Aussie milk bar – for generations people have been coming from far and wide to taste the famous sodas, spiders and milkshakes at Bells Milk Bar and Museum. You can get a real taste of Broken Hill history as you sit in this unique and authentic 1950s milk bar. While you are there you can learn about Australian milk bar and cafe culture in the milk bar museum, browse the retro gift shop or try a range or old style drinks and desserts.
Sport
The Broken Hill community loves its sport and recreational pursuits. There is an aquatic centre, gym, golf club, YMCA, and PCYC. In addition the Broken Hill City Council owns and maintains a number of sports and recreation areas.
Arts and culture
Broken Hill’s historic buildings and tranquil bush landscapes offer inspiration to artists and film industry professionals. Proud to boast the home of international artists such as Pro Hart and Jack Absolom, Broken Hill is thriving on artistic talent and can be viewed in one of 30 plus art galleries throughout the city. Broken Hill has more resident artists per capita than anywhere else in Australia.
Explore the Living Desert Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, 6 km from town, where sculptures sit on top of hills in the desert reserve. Enjoy an easy walk along the Heritage Trail, taking in many 19th-century buildings, or visit the Silver City Art Centre and Mint to watch a local silversmith smelt, cast and manufacture local silver jewellery. While there, you can also indulge in Broken Hill’s finest chocolate.
Aboriginal culture
The Wilyakali people traditionally occupied the lands around Broken Hill and visited the Paakantji people on the Menindee Lakes in the Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion each year.
The three Major language groups for the Broken Hill Region are the Paakantji, Mayyankapa, and Nyiimpaa.
Today the Wilyakali people of Broken Hill are still the main Aboriginal group in Broken Hill, though there are a number of Aboriginal people that come from other language groups. They still face many challenges of living in a regional town in modern day Australia yet continue to contribute to the livelihood of the Broken Hill city and the region.
The Aboriginal people of Broken Hill have established working parties to pursue their vision of a better future. They continue to look after their traditional lands and are joint managers of the Mutawintji National Park which is the first national park handed back to the traditional owners in NSW. There are many strong elders who continue to maintain and pass on their traditional knowledge to their young people and, today, share their stories with the wider community.
Official Broken Hill site
